Travel alerts & warnings
Belgium driving guide.
Belgium’s compact size and extensive motorway network make it easy to combine historic cities with countryside stops. Expect congestion around Brussels and Antwerp, multilingual road signs, and restricted access in some city centres.
- Advisory
- Increased caution
- Drives on
- Right
- Best season
- April to June or…
- Permit honored
- Yes
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Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Exercise increased cautionin Belgium due to crime, terrorism, and unrest.
- Crime
- Petty crime is common, especially in popular tourist locations. Stay aware of your surroundings.
- Most crimes against foreigners are crimes of opportunity, like purse snatching and pickpocketing.
- Terrorism
- There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Belgium.
- Visit the U.S. Department of State's country reports on terrorism to learn more.
Driving there
Your permit in Belgium
- Belgium honors the International Driving Permit. The permit is a translation of your license into ten languages — it is not a license on its own.
- Carry your valid U.S. driver's license with the permit at all times. The permit is valid for one year and only while your U.S. license is valid.
- Rental companies and local police can be stricter than national law. Confirm the requirement with your rental company before you travel.
Advisory information is published by the U.S. Department of State and reproduced here for convenience. It can change at any time — always check the official advisory before you travel. USIDA does not issue travel advisories.
Before you drive
Top travel tips for Belgium
Junctions and road rules
Give way to traffic from the right at unsigned junctions, and generally give priority to trams. Seat belts are compulsory, and holding or operating a handheld phone while driving is prohibited.
Regional speed limits
For cars, motorways generally allow 120 km/h. Outside built-up areas, the usual limit is 70 km/h in Flanders and 90 km/h in Wallonia; built-up areas generally default to 50 km/h. Brussels defaults to 30 km/h except where signed otherwise. Posted limits always take precedence.
Tolls and low-emission zones
Belgian motorways are generally toll-free for passenger cars, but Antwerp’s Liefkenshoek Tunnel charges a toll. Brussels, Antwerp and Ghent have low-emission zones; check current eligibility and whether your foreign-registered vehicle needs advance registration before entering.
Fuel and payment
Petrol pumps commonly offer 95 E10 and 98 E5; standard diesel is labelled B7. Confirm the correct fuel on your rental’s filler flap. Unattended stations commonly require a payment card and PIN and may place a temporary preauthorisation hold.
Rentals and police checks
Carry your original driving licence alongside your IDP, passport, rental agreement and the vehicle’s registration and insurance documents. An IDP does not replace your licence. Confirm rental age and licence-tenure requirements, and check that the car has a warning triangle and reflective vest; put the vest on before leaving the vehicle during a motorway breakdown.
Worth the drive
Places to see in Belgium
Bruges
West Flanders · About 45–60 minutes from Ghent.
Medieval streets, canals and the Belfry reward a full day on foot; use an edge-of-centre car park rather than navigating the historic core.
Ghent
East Flanders · About 50–65 minutes from Antwerp.
Visit Gravensteen castle and the historic Graslei waterfront; use park-and-ride facilities to avoid the centre’s restricted circulation zones.
Dinant
Namur Province, Wallonia · About 30–40 minutes from Namur.
A riverside town beneath limestone cliffs, with a hilltop citadel and scenic drives along the Meuse.
Durbuy
Luxembourg Province, Wallonia · About 50–60 minutes from Liège.
Explore a compact stone-built old town and nearby Ourthe Valley roads, woodland walks and viewpoints.
Waterloo Battlefield
Walloon Brabant · About 35–50 minutes from central Brussels.
The Lion’s Mound and battlefield museum provide a practical countryside excursion focused on the 1815 battle.
Hoge Kempen National Park
Limburg, Flanders · About 25–35 minutes from Hasselt to the Kattevennen gateway.
Heathland, pine forests and marked walking routes are accessible from designated gateways with parking; choose a gateway before setting out.
Heading to Belgium?
Apply online in about ten minutes. We print and mail your permit, and you can track it the whole way.